The Pledge of Allegiance Act amends the Revised Code to require the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in various school districts, including city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational schools. It establishes a new section, 3313.6031, which mandates that each board of education create a policy for the recitation, ensuring participation is voluntary and respects constitutional rights. The bill prohibits any changes to the wording of the Pledge as defined by federal law and encourages schools to incorporate lessons about the American flag and the Pledge to foster citizenship. Additionally, it removes previous provisions that allowed boards of education to opt-out of including the Pledge in their programs, making recitation a requirement, and mandates that each district board publicly post its policy on their website.

Furthermore, the bill enhances governance and operational standards for community schools by requiring the development of a comprehensive plan that details the selection process for governing authorities, management, and student enrollment policies. It mandates that loans from school operators be documented and charged at fair market interest rates, and that any external auditors hired must be independent of the operator. The legislation also ensures community schools comply with various legal requirements akin to traditional school districts, introduces new compliance mandates, and repeals certain existing sections of the Revised Code to streamline governance. Overall, the bill aims to bolster accountability, transparency, and operational integrity within community schools while maintaining educational standards.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.602, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24